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Posts: 60
Joined: Aug. 25 2005
From: Kingston ON Canada
Bulerias, Hearing lamada, counting i...
As I work with a dance instructor in preparation for playing guitar for a dance class that is learning bulerias in particular, I am finding I have more questions than answers. The instructor likes what I can play so far for bulerias but now wants me to get it all into order so the dancers can hear the lamada coming. I have a small grasp on this concept but would really like to get it completely under control, any clues out there?.....she has been explaining how it is important that the lamada comes in on the last 6 beats of the 5th or 7th 12 count, which I technically understand, but I'm not hearing it in either my playing or the recordings I have. Otherwise, it's all going very good. Having grown up in North America with 4/4 and 3/4 time, this is a challenge, but a good one,
Posts: 15799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Bulerias, Hearing lamada, counti... (in reply to Jim9guitars)
It is better that the dancer leads the guitarist in those cases, but I guess the teacher wants you to do a "cierre" or something to give them a clue. I say keep things "square" or in groups of 4 compases so it all at least feels natural to everyone.
So a cierre is a closing with a group of chords and rasgueado. So you play like normal for 4 compases I guess if she wants that, then do something like this chromatic barre chord progression: C-B-Bb-A on counts 12-2-4-6 (dancers will like that you know the count) then rasgueado nice and loud on the A chord, counts 7-10. brrrrrrrr! That should get their attention to do a llamada. Listen to Moraito for this type of thing if you are not sure.
Now if they want special music for the actual llamada, you could be a nerd and tell them that NOBODY IN SPAIN will play anything special for that llamada por bulerias anymore. Or you could play: A A A A A A -counts 1-6 Dm-rasgueado 7-10. Then Dm again on 11. 12, just gople. Dm rasgueado 1-2-3 C-4-5-6 Bb-7-8-9 A-10.
And then kick back in with normal rhythm. If that IS what they want, and you play it like I described, and they say that is IT!, then just roll your eyes and say "alright I will do it....". But honestly, you don't NEED to do all that fancy old stuff for bulerias anymore.
Posts: 15799
Joined: Dec. 14 2004
From: Washington DC
RE: Bulerias, Hearing lamada, counti... (in reply to Jim9guitars)
Hmmm reading again, I think that the "llamada coming" for her means, they already started the llamada, and they ARE looking for that Dminor chord change I wrote in the long llamada explaination.
It is weird to me because the first part (counts 1-6) the dancers mark the step and THAT is the llamada or "call" to the guitarist. That is where i wrote that A chord over and over 6 times. I have heard them call it a desplante to do that whole long sequence. As I said before, this is very old school.
Posts: 60
Joined: Aug. 25 2005
From: Kingston ON Canada
RE: Bulerias, Hearing lamada, counti... (in reply to Jim9guitars)
Thanks Ricardo, and I don't have anything recorded yet val. So far I've only met with the dance instructor, the trial by fire with the actual dance class is next, I'll keep the group posted(and will probably have more questions). I feel good about it though, I've always wanted to know more about the whole flamenco experience.
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